Diabetes decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for VA examinations to evaluate his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, which he claims is related to herbicide exposure during his tours in Guam. The Board has ordered additional development to verify the Veteran's claimed exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current level of disability associated with his diabetes.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) records. The Veteran will also be provided with a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy, as well as an opinion regarding his ability to work due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for Type II Diabetes Mellitus, finding that there was no evidence of exposure to herbicides during his service and thus no basis for presumptive service connection. The Court vacated this decision and remanded it back to the Board.

The Veteran's nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy, associated with his diabetes mellitus, does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating under VA's rating criteria.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus, combine to render him unable to obtain or retain substantially gainful employment since April 6, 2015. His diabetes requires regulation of dietary activities but not restriction of physical activities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of various diabetic neuropathies and other conditions, finding that the evidence did not support a grant based on direct exposure to herbicides or presumptive service connection due to his Korean service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran and his representative. The issues of rating PTSD and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability are being reviewed.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals as he withdrew them prior to a decision being made. The Board also determined that service connection for erectile dysfunction is not warranted, as it is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected atrophic left testicle.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain VA treatment records from 1971 and 1975 for diabetes mellitus, as these records are not currently in the claims file.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to the grant of a 100% disability rating for PTSD effective from December 12, 2013. As such, no further action is required on any remaining issues.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and his claim for TDIU is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus is not etiologically related to service and is not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD. Therefore, service connection for diabetes mellitus is denied.

The Board found that diabetes mellitus was not incurred in service and is not related to medications taken for hypertension and asthma. Metabolic syndrome, while diagnosed post-service, has no evidence of being present or treated during service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to the need for additional VA clinical records and SSA records.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus, which are currently diagnosed conditions. The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the likely etiology of these conditions.

The Board found no evidence of a heart disorder during service or within the one-year presumptive period following discharge from service. The Veteran's current heart disorder is not considered related to active service, including contaminated water exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee disability, back disability, right hip disability, diabetes mellitus, and erectile dysfunction. The evidence did not establish a direct link between these conditions and military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain more recent records and provide him with a VA examination to determine the nature of his claimed conditions, including diabetic retinopathy, low back condition, acquired psychiatric condition (PTSD and depression), and hypertension.